Delivering more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in South Eastern New South Wales

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment for a further 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics with tender processes underway from today to identify providers to operate the Nowra, Shellharbour and Bega clinics. These new clinics will give more Australians access to high quality and free walk-in urgent health care.
 
The new Nowra, Shellharbour and Bega Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will be open over extended hours, seven days a week, with no appointment needed, and all patients will be fully bulk billed.
 
These clinics are intended to take pressure off local hospitals, including Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Shellharbour Hospital, South East Regional Hospital and will fill an important gap in services across extended hours and over the weekend.
 
Tender processes led by the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Network have commenced to identify providers to operate the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Nowra, Shellharbour and Bega.
 
The tender processes will be open to general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
 
Ninety Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have opened across Australia, which have already seen more than 1.8 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023, including over 355,700 presentations to the 22 existing New South Wales Medicare Urgent Care Clinics as at 4 August 2025.
 
Over 22 per cent of presentations to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in New South Wales have been outside standard business hours, which means the clinics are filling an important gap in services across extended hours and over the weekend.
 
Over one in four visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in New South Wales have taken place on a weekend, while one in five weekday visits took place at 5pm or later.
 
And with one in four visits treating a young person under 15, New South Wales Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are giving families timely health care and peace of mind.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
 
“People deserve timely care close to home — and that’s exactly what these clinics deliver.”
 
“Whether it’s a weekend injury or a sudden illness, these clinics are there to help — no appointment needed.”
 
“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are easing pressure on emergency departments and giving communities more options for urgent, non-life-threatening care.”
 
Quotes attributable to Minister Kristy McBain, Member for Eden-Monaro:
 
“I’m proud to be part of the Labor team delivering on this election commitment and providing better local healthcare for the Bega Valley.
 
“This Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will offer free healthcare to people in the Bega Valley when they need it, and help take pressure off the hospital.
 
“The Urgent Care Clinic I delivered in Queanbeyan has been hugely successful, giving people injured in weekend footy or sick kids access to free and fast care – which is exactly the service we’ll provide in the Bega Valley.”
 
Quotes attributable to Fiona Phillips, Member for Gilmore:
 
“This is fantastic news for the people of Nowra and surrounds who can wait up to six hours to see a doctor at the very busy Shoalhaven Hospital ED. I know they are excited for the doors to open.
 
“The federally funded Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Nowra will build on the very successful clinic at Batemans Bay that has treated more than 17,000 people, including local residents and visitors to the South Coast.”
 
Quotes attributable to Carol Berry, Member for Whitlam:
 
“The Shellharbour Urgent Care Clinic will make a real difference for local families – providing fast, bulk billed care close to home, without the need for an appointment. Urgent care clinics deliver practical and accessible health care when families often need it the most.
 
“The Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to strengthen Medicare and invest in local health care.
 
“I’m proud to be part of a government that’s listening to communities and acting on what matters.”